Railway car door control mechanism

ABSTRACT

A railway car door of the laterally movable and slidable type is provided with a control mechanism including cams which sequentially are movable to first open locking bolts and then laterally move the door to an open position. The mechanism includes manual control means which are shiftable to selectively engage a force multiplying device movable engagement with anchoring means on the car body so as to provide a power-assist in sliding the door relative to the door opening.

United States Patent Knippel et 21.

Oct. 21, 1975 l lB RAILWAY CAR DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM Inventors: WillisH. Knippel, Palos Park, 111.;

Walter J. Marulic, Gary, lndi Assignee: Pullman Incorporated, Chicago,111.

Filed: Aug. 20, 1973 Appl. No.: 389,933

Published under the Trial Voluntary Protest Program on January 28, 1975as document no. B 389,933.

U.S. Cl. .i 49/220; 49/281; 49/358; 49/360 lnt. Cl. .i EOSD 15/10 Fieldof Search 49/214-220, 49/358, 279-281, 360

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Ottinger 49/281 X 2,553,5115/1951 Casey Sr. 49/358 2,843,375 7/1958 Lesage 49/220 3,750,335 3/1973Marshm. 49/220 Primary ExaminerKenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Richard J. Myers [57] ABSTRACT A railway car door of the laterallymovable and slid able type is provided with a control mechanism including cams which sequentially are movable to first open locking boltsand then laterally move the door to an open position. The mechanismincludes manual control means which are shiftable to selectively en gagea force multiplying device movable engagement with anchoring means onthe car body so as to provide a power-assist in sliding the doorrelative to the door opening.

10 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures US. Patent 0a. 21, 1975 Sheet 1 of43,913,267

U.S. Patent 0a. 21, 1975 Sheet2of4 3,913,267

US. Patent 0a. 21, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,913,267

US. Patent 0m 21, 1975 Sheet 4 on 3,913,267

RAILWAY CAR DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED PATENTThis invention is an improvement over and is related to US. Pat. No.3,750,335 granted Aug. 7, 1973.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to railway car plug doors of a type which are slidinglysupported on a track and are movable from a closed position within adoor opening to an open position laterally outward of and to one side ofthe door opening.

2. Description of the Prior Art The invention is primarily directed to amechanism which is associated with and operated by a door operatingmechanism for the purpose of providing power to slide the plug doorbetween opened and closed positions. Such devices are shown in US. Pat.Nos. 3,468,062, 9/23/69; 3,468,063, 9/23/69; 2,553,511, /15/51;3,636,658, 1/25/72.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention resides in a railway car plugdoor wherein a door control mechanism includes a pair of cams manuallyand selectively operable to sequentially open locking bolts and thenlaterally force the door outwardly relative to the door opening. Thecombination includes a force multiplying device which upon shifting ofcertain elements is actuated by the operator for effecting powerassistance in slidably moving the door from a position over the dooropening to a position at one side of the door opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view,partially in section, showing an improved plug door in closed positionover the door opening of a railway car side;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a door operating mechanism;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view through an operating mechanism takensubstantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view showing a sprocket and associated gearmechanism;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a gear detail;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view in detail ofa cam actuator; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view in detail of a gear.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring particularly to FIG.1, a railway car side 10 includes a rectangular door frame 11 consistingof laterally spaced door posts 12 defining a door opening 13. The doorframe 11 also includes a top plate structure 14 and a lower side sillstructure 15. The horizontal track 16 is supported on the side sillstructure 15. A door generally designated at 17 is shown in a closedposition within the door opening 15, said door being of the plug andsliding type conventional in the railway car field.

The door 17 comprises upper and lower transverse structural members 18and 19 suitably connected to laterally spaced vertical members 20. Metalsheathing 20' is secured to the transverse members 18-19 and verticalmembers 20. A roller support and swivel structure assembly 21 isprovided at one lower end of the door, the said roller structure beingslidably supported on the track 16. An upper swivel and roller support22 is provided at the upper left hand portion of the door. as shown inFIG. 1. A roller support 23 at the lower right hand side ofthe door isslidingly supported on the track 16 in conventional fashion. The rollersupport 23 also has associated therewith a lower crank arm 24 inconventional manner. The upper right hand end of the door is alsoprovided with a roller support assembly 25 and an upper crank arm 25'. Arotatable vertical pipe is connected to the roller support assemblies 23and 25 for pivotal movement about its vertical axis. The door includes avertical locking bolt linkage assembly 27 and a horizontal locking boltassembly 28. The locking bolt assemblies 27 and 28 are slidable relativeto the door between open and closed positions, the vertical assembly 27engaging the lower side sill structure in locking relation and thehorizontal assembly 28 engaging one of the door posts 12 in lockingrelation.

A door actuating mechanism is generally designated at 30 and, as bestshown in FIG. 5, includes a rear plate 3I suitably connected to thesheathing 20'. A front plate 31' forms with said rear plate 31 a housinggenerally designated at 29. The housing 29 supports for rotation a shaft32 to which a manual hand wheel 33 is con' nected. The shaft 32 issupported at its front end in a bearing 34 supported within the frontplate 31'. The plates 31 and 31 are enclosed by a suitable sheet metalhousing designated at 29. The shaft 32 is also supported at its rear endwithin a bearing 35 in turn supported by the rear plate 31. A gearelement 36, as best shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, is keyed to the front endof the shaft 32. The gear element includes gear teeth 37. The gearelement 36 is engageable with a camming actuator 38, as best shown inFIGS. 5 and 8. The camming actuator 38 comprises a pair of spaced arms39, having sup ported at one end cylindrical camming means 40. The lowerarm 39, as shown in FIG. 5, is provided with splined apertures 41 whichare adapted to be suitably engaged by the gear teeth 37, as best shownin FIG. 8. A sprocket 42 is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 32 forrelative rotation. The sprocket 42 comprises a hub 43 also havinginternal splined apertures 44, as best shown in FIG. 6, within which agear 45 having gear teeth 46 is engageable. The arms 39 are alsosupported on the shaft 32 but are relatively rotatable with respectthereto.

The actuating mechanism 30 is more specifically shown and described inthe above referenced patent. It comprises generally a cam 47 pivotallyconnected to a shaft 48 and an associated cam 49 pivotally connected toa shaft 50, both of said shafts being supported on the plates 31 and31'. The cams 47 and 49 are, respectively, provided with recesses 50 and51. A pivot connection 52 pivotally connects the cam 49 to thevertically locking bolt linkage assembly 27. Similarly. the cam 49 ispivotally connected to the horizontal locking bolt linkage assembly 28by means of a pivot connection 52'. A link 53 by means of a pivotconnection 53 is suitably connected to the cam 47. The linkage assembly53 is connected to a pivot bracket 54 anchored on the pipe 26 whereuponhorizontal movement of the linkage assembly 53, the pipe 26 is rotatedfor the purpose of moving the door laterally inwardly and outwardlyrelative to the door openingv As best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, thesprocket 42 is connected to an endless chain 55 which in turn is trainedabout a sprocket 56 as shown in FIG. 3 which is rotatably mounted abouta shaft 57 connected to a pivot bracket 58 supported on the sheathingThe sprocket 56 is connected to a drum 59 about which a cable 60 iswound and which extends to a first pulley 61. The cable 60 extendsaround pulley 61 and to the right as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and one end65 of the cable 60 is suitably anchored on an adjustable spring tensionanchoring element 66 supported on the top plate 14. The cable 60 on drum59 also extends around pulley 61' and to the left as shown in FIGS. 1and 2 and left end 64 is anchored by means ofan adjustable springtension anchoring element 66 supported on the top plate 14. A bracket 63supports both pulleys 61 and 61' on door 17.

THE OPERATION FIG. 1 shows the door 17 in the closed position with thelocking bolt assemblies 27 and 28 in locked position. An operator nowwill rotate the shaft 32 in a counterclockwise direction whereupon thearms 39 are moved in counterclockwise direction and the camming means 40within the slot causes the cam 49 to pivot about the shaft 50 in aclockwise direction, thereby withdrawing the locking bolt assemblies 27and 28 from the locked position, To effectuate this rotation of the arms39, the shaft 32 has been moved axially from the position shown in FIG,5 inwardly, whereupon the gear teeth 37 are in engagement with thesplined apertures 41, as shown in FIG. 8. Continued movement of the arms39 in a counterclockwise direction provides for disengagement of thecamming means 40 with respect to the slot 51 and its subsequentengagement with the camming slot 50, whereupon the cam 47 is rotated ina clockwise direction, thereupon horizontally moving the link 53,thereby rotating the rod 26 about its axis. Rotation of the rod 26causes pivotal movement of the cranks 24 and thereby moving the doorlaterally outwardly from the right hand side of the door opening, theleft hand side of the door being pivoted about the swivel and rollerstructures 21 and 22. The door now is in position for sliding movementto one side of the door opening.

In order to power-assist and move the door to an open position on oneside of the door opening, the operator now moves the shaft 32 axiallyoutwardly into the position shown in FIG. 5 wherein the gear teeth 46are in engagement with the splined apertures 44 of the hub 43 andsimultaneously the gear teeth 37 are disengaged from splined aperture 41of arm 39. Rotation of the hand wheel now is effective to provide forrotation of the sprocket 42 which in turn provides for rotation of thedrum 59 about which the cable 60 is wound. Since the cable ends 64 and65 are anchored on the car structure, or extensions of the top plate,rotation of the sprockets and associated part provides for a power driveof the door to move laterally in sliding relation to one side of theopening. By virtue of the arrangement of the sprockets, hand wheel, andassociated cable ar rangement, a force multiplying factor is achieved sothat the door moves easily to the desired position, To

return the door to its closed position the operation is, of course,reversed.

What is claimed is:

l. A vehicle door movable laterally between a position closing theopening in a door frame and a position over the door opening andslidably movable between a position over the opening and a position onone side of said opening, a rod rotatably connected to said door, crankarms on said rod rotatably connected to said door frame to provide forsaid lateral movement, locking bolt means slideably connected to saiddoor and movable into and out of locking relation relative to said doorframe, the improvement comprising,

a door operating means including a shaft mounted on said door forrotatable and axial movement relative to said door,

means on said shaft for rotating and axially moving the shaft relativeto said door,

actuating means associated with said shaft moveably mounted on saiddoor,

first linkage means connected to said actuating means and to said rodfor rotating the same in response to movement of said actuating means,

second linkage means connected to said bolt means and to said actuatingmeans for sliding said bolt means in response to movement of saidactuating means,

a mechanism for moving said door to one side of said opening including atension member anchored to said frame on opposite sides of said opening,

a rotatable member connected to said tension member and said doorwhereupon rotation of said rotatable member said door is moved from aposition over the door opening to a position on one side of said dooropening, and

keying means on said shaft and being selectively movable upon axialmovement of said shaft into operative engagement with said rotatablemember for rotating the same so as to effect slidable movement of saiddoor.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said tension membercomprising a flexible member and said rotatable member being associatedwith a drum about which said tension member is wound.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2, said actuating meanscomprising,

a first cam rotatably supported on said door and connected to said firstlinkage means,

said actuating means including a second cam rotatably supported on saiddoor and connected to said second linkage means, and

camming means connected to said shaft and being movable into sequentialengagement with said first and second cams for sequentially actuatingsaid first and second linkage means.

4. The invention in accordance with claim I,

said shaft extending perpendicular to the vertical plane of said doorand being movable axially inward and outward of said door, and

key engageable means on said rotatable member being engaged by saidkeying means upon axial movement of said shaft.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 2, said actuating meanscomprising:

a first cam rotatably supported on said door and connected to said firstlinkage means,

said actuating means including a second cam rotatably supported on saiddoor and connected to said second linkage means,

camming means connected to said shaft and being movable into sequentialengagement with said first and second cams for sequentially actuatingsaid linkage means,

said shaft extending perpendicular to the vertical plane of said doorand being axially movable inwardly and outwardly relative to said doorso as to provide for selective engagement of said keying means on saidshaft with said rotatable member, and

said camming means is disengaged from said first and second cams.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 5, said keying means on saidshaft comprising a gear, and

driven means on said rotatable member having means engageable by saidgear during axial movement of said shaft.

7. A railway car having a side including a frame and a door opening, adoor slideable relative to said opening from a closed position to anopen position on one side of said opening, locking bolt means on saiddoor movable into engagement with said frame in the closed position, ashaft rotatably mounted on said door and extending laterally outwardlyof said door, an actuating means connected to said bolt means forengaging and disengaging the same from said frame, the improvementcomprising:

a mechanism for moving said door between open and closed positions,including:

an anchoring member supported on said frame,

a force multiplying member rotatably mounted on said door and connectedto said anchoring memher.

said shaft being mounted on said door for axial movement, keying meanson said shaft selectively engageable with said force multiplying memberupon axial movement of said shaft whereby during rotation of said shaftsaid force multiplying member is rotated so as to effect slidingmovement of said door, and means on said shaft being operably disengagedfrom said actuating means during selective engagement of said keyingmeans on said shaft with said force multiplying member, 8. The inventionin accordance with claim 7, said anchoring member comprising a cableanchored to said frame on opposite sides of said door.

said force multiplying member comprising a sprocket,

a rotatable drum connected to said door and to said cable, and

flexible drive means connecting said sprocket to said drum.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8,

said shaft being axially movable for effecting selective disengagementof said means on said shaft from said actuating means, and

driven means on said sprocket adapted to be engaged by said keying meansduring selective engagement of said keying means with said driven meansupon axial shifting of said shaft.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 9,

said actuating means including a cam,

linkage means connecting said cam to said bolt means, and

camming means on said shaft for effecting selective engagement with saidcam during axial movement of said shaft to disengage said keying meansfrom said driven means.

1. A vehicle door movable laterally between a position closing theopening in a door frame and a position over the door opening andslidably movable between a position over the opening and a position onone side of said opening, a rod rotatably connected to said door, crankarms on said rod rotatably connected to said door frame to provide forsaid lateral movement, locking bolt means slideably connected to saiddoor and movable into and out of locking relation relative to said doorframe, the improvement comprising, a door operating means including ashaft mounted on said door for rotatable and axial movement relative tosaid door, means on said shaft for rotating and axially moving the shaftrelative to said door, actuating means associated with said shaftmoveably mounted on said door, first linkage means connected to saidactuating means and to said rod for rotating the same in response tomovement of said actuating means, second linkage means coNnected to saidbolt means and to said actuating means for sliding said bolt means inresponse to movement of said actuating means, a mechanism for movingsaid door to one side of said opening including a tension memberanchored to said frame on opposite sides of said opening, a rotatablemember connected to said tension member and said door whereupon rotationof said rotatable member said door is moved from a position over thedoor opening to a position on one side of said door opening, and keyingmeans on said shaft and being selectively movable upon axial movement ofsaid shaft into operative engagement with said rotatable member forrotating the same so as to effect slidable movement of said door.
 2. Theinvention in accordance with claim 1, said tension member comprising aflexible member and said rotatable member being associated with a drumabout which said tension member is wound.
 3. The invention in accordancewith claim 2, said actuating means comprising, a first cam rotatablysupported on said door and connected to said first linkage means, saidactuating means including a second cam rotatably supported on said doorand connected to said second linkage means, and camming means connectedto said shaft and being movable into sequential engagement with saidfirst and second cams for sequentially actuating said first and secondlinkage means.
 4. The invention in accordance with claim 1, said shaftextending perpendicular to the vertical plane of said door and beingmovable axially inward and outward of said door, and key engageablemeans on said rotatable member being engaged by said keying means uponaxial movement of said shaft.
 5. The invention in accordance with claim2, said actuating means comprising: a first cam rotatably supported onsaid door and connected to said first linkage means, said actuatingmeans including a second cam rotatably supported on said door andconnected to said second linkage means, camming means connected to saidshaft and being movable into sequential engagement with said first andsecond cams for sequentially actuating said linkage means, said shaftextending perpendicular to the vertical plane of said door and beingaxially movable inwardly and outwardly relative to said door so as toprovide for selective engagement of said keying means on said shaft withsaid rotatable member, and said camming means is disengaged from saidfirst and second cams.
 6. The invention in accordance with claim 5, saidkeying means on said shaft comprising a gear, and driven means on saidrotatable member having means engageable by said gear during axialmovement of said shaft.
 7. A railway car having a side including a frameand a door opening, a door slideable relative to said opening from aclosed position to an open position on one side of said opening, lockingbolt means on said door movable into engagement with said frame in theclosed position, a shaft rotatably mounted on said door and extendinglaterally outwardly of said door, an actuating means connected to saidbolt means for engaging and disengaging the same from said frame, theimprovement comprising: a mechanism for moving said door between openand closed positions, including: an anchoring member supported on saidframe, a force multiplying member rotatably mounted on said door andconnected to said anchoring member, said shaft being mounted on saiddoor for axial movement, keying means on said shaft selectivelyengageable with said force multiplying member upon axial movement ofsaid shaft whereby during rotation of said shaft said force multiplyingmember is rotated so as to effect sliding movement of said door, andmeans on said shaft being operably disengaged from said actuating meansduring selective engagement of said keying means on said shaft with saidforce multiplying member.
 8. The invention in accordance with claim 7,said anchoring member comprisinG a cable anchored to said frame onopposite sides of said door, said force multiplying member comprising asprocket, a rotatable drum connected to said door and to said cable, andflexible drive means connecting said sprocket to said drum.
 9. Theinvention in accordance with claim 8, said shaft being axially movablefor effecting selective disengagement of said means on said shaft fromsaid actuating means, and driven means on said sprocket adapted to beengaged by said keying means during selective engagement of said keyingmeans with said driven means upon axial shifting of said shaft.
 10. Theinvention in accordance with claim 9, said actuating means including acam, linkage means connecting said cam to said bolt means, and cammingmeans on said shaft for effecting selective engagement with said camduring axial movement of said shaft to disengage said keying means fromsaid driven means.